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Does acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) have a role in the prevention of venous thromboembolism?
Author(s) -
Karthikeyan Ganesan,
Eikelboom John W.,
Turpie Alexander G. G.,
Hirsh Jack
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2009.07734.x
Subject(s) - medicine , aspirin , warfarin , venous thromboembolism , heparin , randomized controlled trial , intensive care medicine , placebo , salicylic acid , anticoagulant , low molecular weight heparin , clinical trial , alternative medicine , thrombosis , atrial fibrillation , pathology , biology , genetics
Summary Guidelines differ on whether acetyl salicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) should be used for prophylaxis in patients at high‐risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), principally because of differences in perceptions of its efficacy. ASA is an attractive therapeutic option because it is inexpensive, easy to administer and does not require monitoring. We critically reappraised the evidence from randomized controlled trials for the efficacy of ASA in VTE prevention. ASA is clearly efficacious in preventing VTE compared to placebo or no treatment, but appears to be less efficacious than the low molecular weight heparins in small trials. There is little data for ASA in comparison with unfractionated heparin and warfarin. A large randomized controlled trial is required to clarify the role of ASA compared to contemporary anticoagulant strategies for the prevention of VTE.